Women's Ice Hockey

Hockey Camps

It’s a good idea for hockey recruits to attend women’s hockey camps. The experience can be beneficial in several ways.

High school girl’s hockey players can greatly improve their on-ice skills after learning from college hockey coaches and players. This high level of teaching can be particularly helpful for underclassmen developing their game and learning new techniques.

Women’s hockey camps offer some exposure to college women’s hockey programs. But hockey recruits need to be know that there’s not really much chance of being “discovered” at a camp. Hockey coaches already familiar with you may evaluate your skills further at a women’s hockey camp. But if they don’t know who you are when you get there, they probably won’t know you when you leave.

Hockey camp can show you exactly how you measure up to other talented girl’s hockey players. Skating against other high school players can help you discover the skills that you need to work on the most.

A college women’s hockey camp gives you a taste of campus life. You stay in the dorms, use the athletic facilities and experience other aspects of a college that may help you make a decision when it comes to choosing a school.

Choosing a Women’s Hockey Camp

Do your research when selecting a women’s hockey camp. It’s also important to decide if you’re going to hockey camp for exposure or strictly to work on your game.

Go to hockey camp at a school that’s recruiting you if you’re hoping to gain exposure. Remember, women’s hockey coaches don’t scout much at camps, so go to a camp where they already know you. Find out what women’s hockey coaches are on the camp staff and get in touch with them before you go to let them know you’re coming.

If your main reason for hockey camp is to improve your skills, learn as much as possible about the coaching staff. Are they experienced with winning? Do they have a history of producing high-level hockey players? Ask someone who’s been to the camp before about the level of hockey talent there.

What’s the difference between invite-only “elite” hockey camps and college hockey camps?

Elite camps (like USA Hockey player development camps) are generally invitation only, which results in an extremely high level of talent. The high quality of skills instruction plus a few days playing against top-level high school hockey players, is excellent for development. If you want to attend an elite hockey camp, have your coach contact the camp and nominate you.

College hockey camps are run by college women’s hockey coaches, and can offer a high level of skills instruction as well. These camps also give a recruit the chance to get a feel for the college hockey program that she’s considering. Attending camp at a school that you’re interested in lets you check out the school’s campus and athletic facilities, and it provides a level of familiarity with the women’s hockey coaching staff.